Belgium CO₂ Emissions
Belgium emitted 85 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024, 0.22% of the global total. That ranks it 43rd of 213 countries and territories and works out at 7.28 tonnes per person.
Data year 2024 · Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) via Our World in Data
How much CO₂ does Belgium emit?
Belgium produced 85 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels and industry in 2024. The world total was 38.6 billion tonnes, so Belgium accounts for 0.22% of it.
With a population of about 12 million, that is 7.28 tonnes per person, 1.5 times the world average of 4.73 tonnes.
CO₂ emissions in Belgium since 1990
Annual emissions in Belgium have fallen by 29% since 1990, from 120 million tonnes to 85 million tonnes. Over the last ten years, from 2014 to 2024, they have fallen by 12%. Emissions peaked in 1979 at 140 million tonnes and are now 39% below that level.
Where the CO₂ comes from
Oil is the largest source of CO₂ in Belgium, at about 49% of the total, followed by gas at 33% and coal at 13%.
How Belgium compares with other countries
These are the countries closest to Belgium in the 2024 ranking by total emissions. See the full ranking of all 213 countries.
| # | Country | Total (Mt) | Share of world | Per person (t) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | Bangladesh | 108.32 | 0.28% | 0.62 |
| 42 | Colombia | 92.66 | 0.24% | 1.75 |
| 43 | Belgium | 85.46 | 0.22% | 7.28 |
| 44 | Oman | 82.66 | 0.21% | 15.65 |
| 45 | Turkmenistan | 81.01 | 0.21% | 10.81 |
Historical emissions
Carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere for a long time, so past emissions matter as well as current ones. Since records began, Belgium has emitted about 12.9 billion tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry. That is 0.7% of the cumulative global total, compared with 0.22% of emissions in 2024.
Frequently asked questions
How much CO₂ does Belgium emit per year?
Belgium emitted 85 million tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry in 2024. That is 0.22% of global emissions.
What are the CO₂ emissions per person in Belgium?
About 7.28 tonnes of CO₂ per person in 2024, which is 1.5 times the world average of 4.73 tonnes.
Are CO₂ emissions in Belgium rising or falling?
They have fallen by 12% over the last ten years and fallen by 29% since 1990. Emissions peaked in 1979 at 140 million tonnes and are now 39% below that level.
What is the largest source of CO₂ in Belgium?
Oil is the largest source, responsible for about 49% of emissions from fossil fuels and industry, followed by gas at 33%.
About the data. Figures are annual carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels and from industry, such as cement production. They are counted where the emissions happen and do not include land-use change, other greenhouse gases, or emissions from imported goods.
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025), processed by Our World in Data and used under the CC BY 4.0 licence. Latest year available: 2024.
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